Wire stretcher and clamp.



No. 725,918. v PATENTBD APR. 21, 1903.

M. R. BARNHILL. WIRE STRETGHER AND CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 24. 1902.

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attentato UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON RICHARDSON BARNHILL, OF BROOKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

WIRE STRETCH SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Appncano'n inea May 24, 1902.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MILTON RICHARDSON BARNHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookville, in the county of Noxubee and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful `Wire Stretcher and Clamps of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved construction of Wire-stretcher, the object being to provide 'a simple and efficient device by means of which a strand of wire can be securely stretched before fastening to the post; and another object of the invention is to provide a device by means of which the ends of two strands of wire can be brought together and spliced while the strands are tightly stretched.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating my invention as being used for the purpose of bringing the ends of two strands of wire together for the purpose of splicing. Fig. 2 is a top plan-view of a wire-stretcher constructed in accordance with -my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3 3of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section -on the line 4 L of.A Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of con-v struction.

In constructing a wire-stretcher in accord-Y ance with my invention I employ a bar A, which is slotted longitudinally, as shown at A', said slot extending the greater portion of the bar A. At one end of the'barl an arm A2 projects therefrom at a right angle, said arm being slotted at its end, as shown at A3,- and a clamping-catch A4 is pivoted adjacent to the said slotted end andis intended to fasten a strand of Wire, which is inserted in the saidslotted end of the arm. A block B, having an arm B' at one end, isA adapted to slide upon one face of the bar A, said arm B extending substantially parallel with the arm A2 and has a slot B3 at its outer end, which is adapted to receive the wire, and the said arm also carries a pivoted clamping member B4, substantially of the same construction as the pivoted clamp or clasp A4. VGuide-legs B2 extend from the end of the block B, strad- ER-AND CLAMP.

Patent No. 725,918, dated Apri121, 1903. s'e/fiai Nofioaszr on modemdle the bar A, and guide the block in its movements upon the said block. A handle C is rigidly connected to the block B by means of the bars C', which extend above and below the bar A and are rigidly connected \to both the handle() and block B. A springactuated locking-pawl D is arranged upon one side of the handle C and is adapted to engage the ratchet-face A5 of the bar A, said ratchet face being arranged opposite the smooth face of the bar, upon which the block B slides. A lever E is pivotally connected to the block B Abetween the handle C and the guide-legs B2,'the pivoted end of said lever being bifurcated and straddling the bar A, and a pawl E' is pivoted in the bifurcated portion of said lever and is adapted to engage the ratchet-face A5 of the `bar A, said pawl being normally held in'engagement with the said ratchet-face 'A5 by means of a spring E2, fastened atone end to the handle E and bearing at its free end upon the pawl E. A spiral spring F is arranged in the slot A and surrounds a rod G, located in said slot and extending from end to end of the same, one end of the said spiral spring bearing against the end of the slot adjacent to the arm A2, while the opposite end of the spring bears against the bifurcated portion of the handle C or against a filling-block C2. v

When it is desired to stretch va wire, the end of the wire to be stretched is inserted in the slot B3 of the arm B' and fastened by means of the pivoted clamp B4.l The handle C and lever E are then grasped in the hands of the operator, the end of the bar being placed against the post, and the lever E is operated to feed the block along the bar in the direction indicated by the arrow, the locking pawl preventing anyretrograde movement, and the pawl E', carried by the lever, serves to engage a dierent notch at each portion of the lever, thereby successively moving the block along until the desired degree of tightness has been obtained. During this operation the spiral spring has been compressed, andafter the wire has been fastened the locking-pawl is disengaged, and the said spiral spring will yimmediately return all of the parts to their normal positions. When it is desired to'connect or splice the ends of two strands of wire, one end is inserted in the slotted arm B', While the other end is con- Y nected to the slotted arm A2, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1, and then'by manipulating the lever, as before mentioned, the arms B and A2 are brought together until the proper degree of tightness has been obtained, and the ends of the Wire are then united.

It will thus be seen that I provide an eX- ceedingly simple and efficient construction of wire-stretcher capable of use for stretching a single Wire or for stretching two wires at the same time.

Having thus fully described my invention,` what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the slotted bar having ratchet-teeth on one side and having an arm at one end provided with a wire-fastening means, of a movable block having a slotted arm at one end, and guide-legs at the opposite end, a handle rigidly attached to the said block and carrying a locking-pawl, a lever pivoted to the block and carrying a feeding-pawl, said pawls being adapted to engage the ratchetface of the bar, a rod arranged in a slot in the bar, and a spring surrounding said rod and bearing upon the handle attached to the block, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with a bar having ratchet-teeth upon one side, a slotted arm extending from the end of the bar at the oppo; site side, of a block adapted to slide-upon the bar, said block having a slotted arm at one end, and the guide-legs at the opposite end, pivoted clamps carried by the slotted arms, a handle rigidly connected to the block and carrying a loeking-pawl, and a lever pivoted to the block and carrying a spring-actuated feeding-pawl, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a bar slotted longitudinally having ratchetteeth upon one face, of a rod arranged in the longitudinal slot, a slotted arm integral With the bar and projecting from one end thereof, a block adapted to slide upon the bar and having a slotted arm at one end, and the guide-legs at the opposite end, the pivoted clamps arranged upon the slotted arms, the handle rigidly attached to the block, a spring-actuated locki ing-pawl arranged upon the side of said handle, a lever pivoted to the block and bifurcated at its pivot end, a pawl pivoted in said bifurcated end, a spring Within the bar bearing upon the handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

MILTON RICHARDSON BARNHILL.

Witnesses:

J. H. DoRRoH, W. N. HAYNES. 

